Manufacture of artificial silk



Sept. 14, 1937. w. SCHIEBER I 2,093,140

MANUFACTURE OF- ARTIFICIAL SILK' I Filed Feb'. 24,1953

HI: MW

By I Afforneys.

Patented Sept. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MANUFACTURE oFARTIFICIAL SILK Application February 24, 1933, Serial No. 658,405

In Germany March 2, 1932 6 Claims.

My present invention relates to the art of manufacturing artificial silkand more particularly to the after-treatment of artificial silk.

I have found that the after-treatment of artificial silk proceeds veryquickly .by subjecting the twisted thread in the loose condition to theaction of the after-treating liquids which condition can be obtained bythe use of twisting bobbins the diameter of which can be varied. A shortirrigation will suffice to after-treat such a loose lap of twistedthreads.

This process saves much manipulation and eliminates machines hithertonecessary for finishing the artificial silk, as compared with themethods hitherto usual when producing artificial silk according to thebobbin spinning system. Furthermore the quality of the silk producedwhen this invention is applied is greatly im-' proved over that of theartificial silk hitherto available on the market and after-treated inhank form or on the spinning bobbin. Particularly the running off in thewinding operation is superior to that of artificial silk producedaccording to the methods hitherto in use with the bobbin spinningsystem, and the number of broken capillary threads is very low. Byshortening of the after-treating period the quantity of after-treatingliquid is reduced whereby costs are saved: and the advantage is obtainedthat the quantity of the impurities always present in the after-treatingliquids, which is deposited on the outer layers of the lap of fibers isdiminished. V v

In this new method of working good results are obtained within a shorttime by sprinkling or irrigating the laps with the liquids. It ispossible to finish the after-treatment in nearly the same time as it ispossible in the usual treatment of silk in hank form,

For carrying out the process there may be used any bobbin thecircumference of which can be varied and which is suitable for use inthe twisting operation, however, there is preferably used a simplebobbin, as usual in twisting artificial silk, made of an elasticmaterial which has been slit in the direction of its longitudinal axis.The dry thread after having been twisted, runs on the bobbin thecircumference of which has been somewhat increased in a simple manner byintroducing into the bobbin a core having a somewhat greater diameterthan the internal diameter of the bobbin. Preferably there is used acore consisting of ,two parts which are not con- 5 nected with eachother, one of said parts being introduced into each of the two openingsof the bobbin being driven by a rotating shaft against which the bobbinpresses by its own weight. That part of the core which extends into theinterior of the bobbin may be conical to facilitate introduction intothe bobbin. It is, of course, essential that the bobbin should haveelasticity so that after the core has been removed the diameter of thebobbin is somewhat lessened. A suitable material for the bobbin isaluminium or another metal preferably coated with a lacquer, but therecan also be used a bobbin of artificial It is not necessary to usebobbins of the usual size; it may often be advantageous to use twistingbobbins which have a diameter considerably larger than that which isusual. When using twisting bobbins of a diameter larger than that of thespinning bobbins it ispossible to wind on the twisting bobbin thecontent of two or more spinning bobbins.

The'after-treatment and drying may be effected with the lap still on thebobbin with the reduced circumference, or after the lap has been removedfrom'the bobbin. In many cases it may be advantageous to cover thebobbin with a baggy covering which maybe permeable, partly permeable andpartly impermeable, or impermeable, for instance, a covering of textile,felt, rubber, or the like, before winding the thread on the bobbin, inorder to prevent the lap from being damaged. If desired this coveringmay be longer than the bobbin so that its ends can be drawn over thelap, in order to cover the latter in the after-treatment and drying. Thepermeable covering acts hereby as a filter preventing the lap from beingsoiled by impurities contained in the after-treating liquid.

If the twisted thread is wound on a bobbin which has been covered by acovering of the kind above mentioned, the lap can easily be removed fromthe bobbin, wrapped in the covering, and irrigated or sprinkled with theaftertreating liquids in this condition.

The after-treated and dried lap may be sold masses reinforced by ringsof cloth or metal.

in the covering to the user who may use it without a rewinding operationby putting it on a bobbin or on a reel. The after-treated lap may alsobe wound on a special bobbin for use in the textile industry, forinstance, on cops or cross wound bobbins.

The following examples illustrate the invention and show thesimplification involved in the new method.

Example 1.'The freshly precipitated artificial silk threads are wound asusual on perforated spinning bobbins, freed from acid by washing withwater under suction or pressureand dried. The dried thread is twisted ona twisting machine with several rows of bobbins one above .the

other, and the twisted thread runs on a slitted twisting bobbin, havingits circumference somewhat increased by the insertion at each *end of acore of suitable size. After the twisting operation is finished thecores are removed from the bobbin and the lap thus loosened is subjectedsuccessively to the action of the after-treating liquids in a device asusual for the after-treatment of artificial silk in hank form byirrigation or sprinkling. The finished, dried lap is brought into theform of a cross wound bobbin or any other suitable form.

Example 2.The freshly spun artificial silk is wound on a bobbin, washedthereon, dried, and twisted as described in Example 1, In the twistingoperation there is used a bobbin, the circumference of which has beensomewhat increased, as in Example 1, but before running the thread onthe bobbin, the latteris covered with an elastic baggy covering oftricot-cloth which extends over the ends of the bobbin. The extendedends of this covering are turned into the bobbin and fixed by the twocores inserted in the bobbin. After the twisting operation is finished,the cores are removed whereby the diameter of the bobbin is somewhatlessened. The loosened lap may be after-treated on the bobbin, the endsof the baggy covering being drawn over the lap; or the lap is removedfrom thebobbin together with the covering, is wrapped in the lattersubjected to the after-treating'liquids by irrigation or sprinkling anddried. The silk-may be marketed in this form.

As twisting bobbin in the present process there can be used, forinstance, the usual unperforated twisting aluminium bobbin slit in thedirection of its longitudinal axis and preferably coated with a lacquer.The diameter of the twisting bobbins may be the normal -10 cm. or it maybe -20 cm. or even greater, depending upon the length of thread to bewound thereon and of the space available of the twisting machine.

The accompanyingdrawing illustrates in detail several of the embodimentsof the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows a twisting bobbin.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a core.

Fig. 3 is a part-sectional view of a bobbin mounted upon two cores.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a bobbin showing thereon, a lap ofartificial silk threads ready for after-treatment.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View showing a core inserted into the end of abobbin and the bobbin covering material underneath the lap.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 4, showing the ends of thebobbin covering material drawn over the lap.

Fig. 7 shows an arrangement for after-treating the loosened lap.

Twisting bobbin l, longitudinally slit at 2, may consist of aluminum orsome other suitable elastic material. Two conically shaped cores 3 areinserted, one at each end, into bobbin I, to increase the diameter ofsaid bobbin, and to provide therefor two pins 4, adapted to rotate inthe slots of the twisting machine frame 5.

Referring to Fig. 5, the bobbin I is covered with a baggy covering oftricot-cloth 1, the ends of said cloth 1 having been turned into theinterior of the bobbin and fixed therein by the cores. The lap B is thenwound onthe cloth 1. After the winding operation the cores 3 arewithdrawn from the bobbin and the ends of cloth I are drawn over the lapi5 so as to cover the latter. For after-treating the loosened lap 6,several such bobbins I are threaded on sticks 9 and sprinkled withafter-treating liquids issuing from nozzles 8.

The =invention is not limited to embodiments shown in the drawing nor tothe examples. Other modifications which are obvious equivalents of thoseshown or described are regarded as included within the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In the manufacture of artificial silk according to the bobbinspinning system the steps which comprise twisting and winding a threadfreed from acid and dried on a spinning bobbin onto abobbinthe'circumference of which can be varied, loosening-the lap ofthreadsformed on the bobbin, and subjecting theloosened lap on saidbobbin to an irrigating treatment with the aftertreating liquids.

2. In the manufacture of artificial silk according to the bobbinspinning system the steps which comprise introducing in a bobbin whichhas been slit in the direction-of its longitudinal axis a core of asomewhat largerdiameterthan has the slit bobbin thus increasing thediameter of the same, twisting and winding a thread, freed from acid anddried on a spinning bobbin onto said bobbin to form a lap, removing thecore from said bobbin, thus loosening the lap, and subjecting theloosened lap on said bobbin to an irrigating treatment with theafter-treating liquids.

3. In the manufacture of artificial silk according to the bobbinspinning system the steps which comprise introducing in a bobbin whichhas been slit in the direction of its longitudinal axis a core of asomewhat wider diameter than has the slit bobbin atbothof itsends,-twisting and winding a thread free from acid and dried on aspinning and subjecting the loosened lap on said bobbin to an irrigatingtreatment with the after-treating liquids.

4. In the manufacture of artificial silk according to the bobbinspinning system the steps which comprise covering a bobbin which hasbeen slit in the direction of its longitudinal axis with a baggycovering, introducing in said bobbin a core haw'ng a somewhat widerdiameter than said slit bobbin, twisting and winding a thread freed fromacid and dried on a spinning bobbin onto said bobbin to form a lap,removing the core from said bobbin, thus loosening the lap, andsubjecting the loosened lap on said bobbin to an irrigating treatmentwith the after-treating liquids.

5. In the manufacture of artificial silk according to the bobbinspinning system the steps which comprise covering a bobbin which hasbeen slit in the direction of its longitudinal axis with a baggycovering standing over both ends of said bobbin, turningthe overstandingends into the-interior of said bobbin, introducing a core having asomewhat wider diameter than said slit bobbin into the latter at bothits ends thereby fixing said cloth, twisting and winding a thread freedfrom acid and dried on a spinning bobbin onto said bobbin, to form alap, removing the cores from said bobbin, thus loosening the lap, andsubjecting the lap on the covering and on said bobbin to an irrigatingtreatment with the after-treating liquids.

6. In the manufacture of artificial silk according to the bobbinspinning system the steps which comprise covering a bobbin which hasbeen slit in the direction of its longitudinal axis with a baggycovering standing over both ends of the bobbin, turning the overstandingends into the interior of said bobbin, introducing a core having asomewhat wider diameter into the latter at both its ends, thereby fixingsaid cloth, twisting and winding a thread freed from acid and dried on aspinning bobbin onto said bobbin toform a lap, wrapping said lap intosaid covering, and subjecting the wrapped lap on said bobbin to anirrigating treatment with the after-treating liquids.

WALTER SCI-IIEBER.

